Indoor marble playing ring



' Dec. 16, 1952 w. A. kE-NNON NDOOR MARBLE PLAYING RING 2. SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed June .12.. 135G;-

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Dec; 16; 1952 w. AQKEHNNON INDOOR MARBLE PLAYING RING Filed June 12', 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 I R. 2% JV ENTO Patented Dec. 16, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to an indoor marble playing ring. It has for its main objects to provide such a device that will be highly satisfactory for the purpose intended, simple in structure, comparatively cheap to manufacture, easy to assemble for use, attractive in appearance, and extremely durable.

A further object is to encourage children to play the game of marbles indoors, especially when the weather is not entirely suitable outside. Also to provide means for playing such a game for children residing in apartments and the like where no yards are provided.

By referring generally to the drawings, it will be observed that Fig. 1 is a plan view of the assembled ring in condition for use; Fig. 2 is a side elevational View part in section of the ring as shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of Fig. 4; Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a segment of the ring showing the dove-tail connections; Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view on line 5-5 of Fig. 6 showing one of the swingable gates; Fig. 6 is a detail view showing the shape of the transverse outline of the ring and how the swingable gates are mounted; Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the gates; Fig. 8 is an edge view of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a detail top plan view of a gate and supporting means therefore; and Fig. 10 is an end view of Fig. 9.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that the device comprises a ring as shown in Fig. 1 made up with identical sections i, with dove-tail type connections 2 and 3 adapted to hold the ring together for use when placed upon a flat surface. The bottom face 4 of the sections is flat, with the floor formed with an incline, portion 5, a decline portion 6, a lesser and longer incline portion 1, a decline portion 8, and a flat portion 9 that is integral with a wall It] which is integral with a roof portion H. Along the inner edge of the roof portion there is a wire 12 supported in brackets I3. The wire is coextensive with the edge of the roof and has a plurality of gates I l adjacent each other supported hinge-fashion thereon. The brackets are adapted to allow the lower ends of the gates to swing inward only to allow a marble indicated by broken lines in three positions in Fig. 6 to pass and remain upon the floor portion 9 of the ring.

care of marble shots of different force. A weak shot would stop at the edge of the ring floor, a stronger shot would mount the first incline and come to rest, a very strong shot would pass over the entire floor, pass through a swingable gate, strike the back wall and finally come to rest on the flat floor adjacent the wall. To retrieve a marble from this position the upper end of the gate would be pulled down by manual means in order to reach the impounded marble.

From the foregoing it will appear that the ring is adapted for use indoors on a plain floor or carpet and will prevent marbles being played with from getting under furniture and the like. Also the ring could be used on a lawn by placing a carpet or heavy canvas upon the lawn as a base for the ring.

The ring may be made of any material suitable for the purpose, but I prefer to use wood, plastic or light grade metal. Also the ring may be made in various sizes.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to limit same to the exact and precise details of structure, but reserve the right to make all modifications and changes so long as they remain within the scope of the invention and the following claim.

Having described my invention I claim:

An indoor marble playing ring of the character described comprising, a ring structure consisting of a plurality of segments having means for removably attaching their ends together to thus form a complete ring when assembled for use, each of said segments having a flat bottom face, a floor integral with the bottom, said floor from its inner end being inclined upward for some distance from its starting point, then declined for some distance to a point slightly higher than its starting point, then inclined upward for a distance approximately twice the length of said former inclined and declined distances, then deelined for a distance equal in length to the distance of the said former declined distance, then continuing fiat for some distance and parallel with the said bottom face surface to a place having a wall surface disposed perpendicular to the said flat surface, then a roof portion integral with and extending from the top of the wall toward the inner end of the segment and parallel with the fiat portion of the floor a plurality of brackets attached in juxtaposed position along the inner edge of the roof portion, a wire as a shaft supported in said brackets, a plurality of gates, each of said gates having a bottom portion 3 and a top portion with the bottom portion being heavier than the top portion, said gates being supported swingable on said wire shaft with the edges of the gates in close proximity with each other to thus form a gate closure adapted for each gate to be swingable independent of its adjacent gates.

WOODROW A. KENNON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number 4 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Wheat Feb. 4, 1868 Phelps Jan. 1, 1924 Hess Dec. 10, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date France Mar. 8, 1933 

